This second volume in a series of studies on The Colonial Economy of NSW covers one of the most important economic drivers of the colonial period - the commissariat of NSW. This series relates the key aspects of the economic history of NSW and essential that of early Australia. Starting in 1788, the series is a retrospective on the colonial economy (volume 1) followed by research of the two main economic drivers of the period - the commissariat (volume 2) and the Government Business Enterprises (volume 3). This innovative and well researched series leads to interesting conclusions about the era, which will create long discussions about the true role of this British penal settlement in 1788.